The Eucharistic Latke

On Thursday this week we went to our annual Hanukkah visit to our next door neighbors' who are Orthodox Jews. They are lovely people, and we always enjoy participating in their Holidays with them and their little girl.

They have several little child-sized menorahs and we light the appropriate candles on each one together. After each candle is lit, we repeat the Hebrew blessing that goes with each one:  “Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu…” and so on. It is a very solemn and mysterious time as we stand in the candlelight and contemplate what G-d did for His people in the temple.

Later, all the kids and adults sit down to have latkes and applesauce together before playing the Dreidel game with the Hanukkah gelt (yummy chocolate coins).

On Thursday we did as we always do.

But this year, just as we began eating,  my little son grabbed one of the round Latkes, held it high up in front of him, and broke it in half saying,"This is my Body broken for you. Whenever you do this, remember me," like he sees it done every week in our Christian church.

Uh…at first I was embarrassed and then delighted with him. I had never seen him do such a thing! Who knew he was even paying attention?  Perhaps he was simply moved by the solemnity and mystery of the evening’s events.

Not knowing what to do in that instant, I just glanced over to my sweet neighbor with an amused look and a shrug saying, "What can you do?"

And thankfully, she just laughed.